Arm support



H. S. FISHER Feb. 9, 1 37.

ARM SUPPORT Filed Feb. 12, 1934 Patented Feb. 9, 1937 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARM SUPPORT Application February 12; 1934, Serial No. 710,777

This invention relates to an arm support for use by undertakers during embalming processes.

The principal object of the invention is to facilltate the positioning of a body prior to embalmmg so that it will present a comfortable and natural appearance after the embalming process has been completed.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved arm support of light weight, strong,

rigid and durable construction and which is economically manufactured.

It is a further object to provide an arm rest having an impervious, smooth and resistant surface enabling the device to be easily cleaned,

disinfected and maintained in a strictly sanitary condition.

A still further object is to provide a pair of arm rests so constructed as to nest one within the other.

Other objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following description and appended claims.

For the purpose of illustrating the genus of the invention, a typical concrete embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a perspective, showing an application of the invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspectives of one of two arm rests constituting a pair normally employed;

and

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the arm rest shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as assembled in nested relation.

In the process of embalming a body, injecting and draining tubes are generally inserted in veins or arteries of the upper arms to drain blood from and inject embalming fluid into the body. As the embalming fluid renders the body somewhat rigid, it is essential that the arms be correctly positioned for drainage prior to injecting the embalming fluid so that the latter will be properly distributed and to correctly arrange the arms so as to present a comfortable and natural appearance after the embalming process has been completed and the body rendered more or less rigid.

Various expedients have been previously employed such as tying the hands or arms together, blocking up the arms, or using devices extending under the entire width of the body. Tying the arms together causes a constriction about the same and transfers their weight to the chest and heart area of the body impeding the flow of fluid through the central distribution point within the body where obstruction to flow of fluid is least desirable and also hinders flow through 2 Claims. 7 (01. 2723) the arm causing discoloration of the partsof the handssuch as the finger tips. When the hands are tied together the distribution of fluid to and from the hands and fingers is impeded ellecting the same result and often marks are 51 leftby the cord or tape used. Blocking up the arms has the disadvantage of affording such unstable support that the arms or blocking may become easily disarranged due to such causes as tension or vibration of the drainage and injec- 10 to become displaced or lost.

The present invention involves the provision of simple and efficientdevices for overcoming the 20 above difli'culties and disadvantages.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that I have provided a pair of independent arm supports I0 and Il each of integral construction and adapted to be positioned for cor- 25 rectly supporting the arms without disturbing other parts of the body and without hindering in any way the embalming process. The arm supports I0 and H, except for the fact that the support II is of slightly smaller dimensions in 30 all respects than the support ID, are of the same construction so that a description of one will suflice for both. The arm supports are of skeleton-like formation and preferably each comprises a pair of loops l2 and I3 shaped to provide a base 35 portion M, an upwardly directed portion l5 extending from one end of the base portion, a downwardly bowed and slightly downwardly inclined arm rest portion I 6, and a downwardly inclined and bowed portion I1 connecting the 40 arm rest portion with the other end of the base portion. The loops l2 and I3 are connected by cross members 20 disposed normally with respect to the planes of the loops and welded at the ends thereof to each of the loops as indicated at 2|. 45 As viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, the left hand portions of the devices including the left hand sections of the base elements l4, the upwardly extending members l5 and the arm rest members l6 comprise arm support portions while the remainder 50 of each device including the downwardly inclined and downwardly bowed members I 1 and the right hand sections of the elements l4 comprises a generally tapered body engaging portion.

The arm supports l0 and II are preferably fin- 55 ished with a baked enamel, japan or varnish or other smooth, impervious and corrosion resistant coating so that they are readily cleaned or disinfected and rendered sanitary.

In use, after the drainage and injection tubes are inserted into the veins or arteries of the upper arms of a body to be embalmed, the arms of the body are lifted and the arm supports l0 and II are positioned laterally of the body with the arms resting in the seat members 16 and supported at or just above the elbow. The arms and hands are then arranged in desired position somewhat as. indicated in Fig. 1. arrangement the forearms and upper arms are generally inclined downwardly from the hand to the shoulder to insure proper drainage. The arms are spaced sufiiciently from the sides of the body to present a comfortable and natural appearance. In the average case the portions I! of the arm supports will be moved laterally inwardly until they just contact the body, in which position the arms disposed within the arm rest portions l6 will assume the arrangement desired. It will be noted, however, that the arm rests I0 and I I may be moved inwardly or outwardly with respect to each other as conditions demand. The narrow ends of the arm supports may even be overlapped by telescoping the narrow'end of the support ll within the corresponding end of the support ID.

When the arm rests are not in use they may be nested together as indicated in Fig. 4 so as to provide a small, neat, and compact structure.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be effected without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. An arm support comprising a plurality of loops of wire each shaped to provide a base portion, an upwardly directed portion, an arm rest It will be noted that in this portion and a downwardly inclined curved portion, and cross members connected to said loops for maintaining the latter in parallel spaced relation.

2. An arm support for use in embalming a body comprising an integral skeleton-like wire frame including a pair of closed loops each shaped to provide 'a straight base, an upwardly directed member at one end of said base, a downwardly bowed arm rest inclined slightly in a'downward direction from the upper end of said upwardly directed member, and a downwardly bowed and downwardly inclined body-engaging portion connecting said arm support and the other end of said base; and cross members welded to said loops for connecting the latter in parallel spaced relation.

HENRY s. FISHER. 

